CQ Webcasts

Chongqing Announces Notable Success in the Special Combat against Mafia-style Gangs and Other Criminal Forces

Firstly Mafia-style gangs and criminal forces of other kinds have been cracked down on. According to the statistics from the public security organ, as of Oct. 28th, 2954 persons who were suspected to be involved in Mafia-style and other criminal activities had been arrested. A total of 79 guns, 1482 bullets, 4 hand grenades, 221 controlled knives, and 62.01 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine had been confiscated; the assets in amount of 1.743 billion yuan which were involved in these criminal cases had been confiscated, frozen or seized. The major Mafia-style gangs which had operated in Chongqing with impunity for long had been dealt a fatal blow. Major heads of the Mafia-style gangs including Chen Mingliang, Gong Gangmo, Chen Shenzhi, Yue Cun, Li Qiang, Wang Tianlun were all captured. Besides, More than 160 key members were hunted down.

At present, the procuratorial authority has approved to arrest 814 persons, and to prosecute 327 persons suspected to be involved in a total of 36 Mafia-style gang-related cases, of whom six Mafia-style gangs headed by Yang Tianqing, Xie Caiping, Li Qiang, Li Yi, Zhang Bo, Liu Zhongyong had been indicted. The court had passed sentence at first instance against two criminal cases involving Mafia-style gangs headed by Yang Tianqing and Liu Zhongyong. Court hearing on the cases of Xie Caiping, Li Yi and Zhangbo have been conducted, and the judgements against them will be pronounced shortly. The case of Liqiang were heard in court on Oct. 26th; five major Mafia-style gang-related cases involving Yue Ning, Chen Kunzhi, Chen Mingliang, Wang Xingqiang, and Deng Yuping have been transferred to investigating and prosecuting authoritie and are being handled. Public prosecution against them will be initiated in the immediate future.

Secondly, the public security environment is cleaned up. Comprehensive rectification campaign focusing on cracking Mafia-style gang related criminal cases removed some problems beforehand, and created a harmonious and stable social environment to embrace celebrations for the 60th anniversary of People’s Republic of China. From Jan. to Sep. of this year, a total of 70577 criminal cases had been cracked in Chongqing, cracking down on 28274 criminals, up by 27.3% and 5.4% over the same period of last year. 27198 long-pending cases were cracked, up by 52.9% over the same period of last year. The number of long-pending homicide cases cracked exceeded the total number of such cases cracked in the past five years. A high percentage of 91.35% was achieved in the cracking of homicide cases in force. The 110 calls made to police stationed at downtown areas have been reduced by 40%, and the sense of security of the general public has improved significantly.

Thirdly good social environment is created to facilitate the economic development of Chongqing. The special combat against Mafia-style gangs and other criminal forces in Chongqing removed a large number of Mafia-style criminal forces which had exercised monopoly in the economic sectors, and maintained the normal economic order, and thus pushed forward the economic development. From Jan. to Sep., the economic development of Chongqing kept a good momentum, with GDP increase of 13.4%. The city opened wider to the outside and a number of internationally renowned enterprises such as HP and FOXCONN settled in Chongqing.

Fourthly, a great number of social conflicts were resolved. Through the special combat against Mafia-style gangs and other criminal forces and priority program of“extensive visits”, a large number of social conflicts were dissolved, which contributed to social harmony and stability . As of the end of Sep., letters and visits from the people of Chongqing dropped by 42.2% and 49.8% respectively over the same period of last year. Group letters and visits to related municipal authorities dropped by 36% and 39.9% respectively. In Sep. of this year, Chongqing ranked 27 in the number of irregular letters and visits to related authorities in Beijing, down five places compared with the rank of 22 in Sep of last year. The extent of social harmony improved visibly. This year saw the launch of Safe Chongqing Program. On one hand, the central government made plans to carry out the special combat against Mafia-style Gangs and Other Criminal Forces; on the other hand the municipal party committee made decisions to resolve social conflicts, and organized a special “extensive visit” activity, which yielded good results. The two works are of causal relations and complement each other.

Fifth, anti-corruption campaign was boosted. A number of officials were punished for violation of laws and disciplines and acting as protective umbrella, among whom were Wen Qiang, Director of Municipal Judicial Bureau, Peng Changjian, Deputy Director of the municipal Public Security Bureau, Zhao Wenrui, Deputy District Chief of the Beibei District. These efforts cleaned up the official team.

The public welcome the combat against Mafia-style Gangs and Other Criminal Forces. People in Banan, Bishan, Nan’an and Jiulongpo, holding high silk banners, came to show their gratitude to the party committees at district and municipal levels and public security organs. People in Wuhan of Hubei and Hu county of Shan'anxi made special trip to Chongqing to present the silk banner. They said that the combat against Mafia-style gangs and other criminal forces won support from the masses and set a good example to other regions of the country. On Sep. 16th, 17th, the Municipal People’s Congress and People's Political Consultative Conference organized visiting groups respectively to inspect the municipal efforts to crack down on Mafia-style gangs and other Criminal Forces. The NPC member and CPPCC members believe that the crackdown on Mafia-style gangs and other criminal forces has improved the public security and economic environments of the entire city and safeguarded the lawful rights and interests of the masses. It indicates that Chongqing has reached new heights in building a safer and more stable city.